As some of you know, I've written a 150 page book on impromptu magic with the human body. Lots of cool, updated and classic tricks. Some of which I've put on video. Its not the best quality (I should have been closer to the camera), but its something. Let me know what you think.

Body Tricks
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?doci......12023206

Cool Magician
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?doci......25964654

Man Of Magic (Documentary)
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=812994763957999608

Stephen Ablett
http://www.magicmystery.co.uk/book.htm

At the time of writing this over a dozen people have read the post and not replied.
Come on guys, how about a little feedback?

Hey Stephen, good job.

Although a lot of the stuff you did was really old (and I do mean really old), all was nicely executed. A few bits I'd not seen before which meant (obviously)? I enjoyed those more.
The best thing of all? The fact that ALL of this is completely impromptu.
Regardless of the distance from the camera, I think the quality of the image let you down a bit. That said it was still very watchable.
I think the 'finger bite' would be great used before 'bitten coin'
My favorite was probably the 'arm twist' at the end of the 'Body Tricks' video.

Kudos to you for sticking it up here.

Best regards, Mike.

Hey Stephen,
it's great stuff, only let down by sunshine. So your hands and face were bleached out and made it unclear as to what was going on.
The close up finger bite indoors works really well. Ouch!!
So - it worked I'm interested in your book. Do you use legs, ears other bits of the body?

best wishes
Danny

Yeah, its split into 14 chapters, with a chnpter on tricks with your arms, tricks with your fingers etc.

For an example, check out the website: http://www.magicmystery.co.uk/book.htm

Steve

Steve,

Looks very interesting. I like to have this type of resource that gathers this category of tricks into one place.

Just ordered it.

Thanks,
Richard

This work is encyclopedic Steve, very impressive. It would've been more appropriate to give a bit more credit in the pieces, things like Banachek's psychokinetic touches and Derren Brown's three-of-diamonds force appear without mention of them. Overall it's well worth the price, and it really has something for everyone: magicians, mentalists, stage hypnotists, and even just people who want to have fun and show their mates a few cool things you can do with your limbs.

Buyers take note though, that explanation of effects are rather skeletal, if adequate. Thought and effort will have to be put in to craft these into your own, which I think is great. Can't beat the price too.

Aside from the production quality, those looked good. A lot of stuff I have done as a 'throw away', you made them seem more magical.

Meier Yedid would be proud of the several effects you performed that were his creations. Very nicely presented, too.

I'm looking forward to getting my mitts on this work.

Lee Darrow, C.H.

My kids enjoyed watching the videos with me. Very entertaining

Just ordered this.
Didn't have the time to look over yet.

FYI:
A dozen people out of 26,971 currently registered members = ~.0004%
One message out of 1,530,058 current total = ~.0000006%
Now, knowing the habits of online forum goers, most of that first dozen looked into this thread, saw a list of outside links (some may have realized they were vids), and moved on to other threads.
Patience.

My only comment is that the screen size is too big for the resolution, and as a result the vids look pixely. That makes it difficult to see finger tricks when the entire actor is in view of the camera -- the individual fingers aren't clear.

I'm currently in the process of making a DVD of Body Tricks. The main problem I have is that the fingers are so small, its hard for them to be picked up cleanly on camera.

I can zoom in and get a close-up, but I move my hands so much getting into positions that the cameras often miss the important move.
I've had to shoot the same trick several times now, just because I accidentally keep moving out of the frame of the camera.
Its a long and painful process but it will be done, and it will be done properly I guarantee you.

The videos above were shot in one afternoon on one take, by myself. On a stationary cheap mp4 camera. It was just a quick demo of body tricks in the book.
The actual DVD is being shot on Sony High-Definition cameras. So that promises to be a lot better.

Steve

Maybe shoot from more of the waist-up instead of knees-up? Then during explainations, shoot close-ups as needed.

I liked the setting of those sample vids: outside, suit & shades, etc. =) =)

Shoot agaist a solid background in a studio setting with proper lighting and you'll be able to see everything better, even from a distance.

I am out of the country and unable to view the video. Sounds interesting though. Is there another way to view it?

e